Lactate baking-powder



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

HAROLD G. UNDERW'OOD, OF MILWAUKEE, \VISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO TH AVERY LAOTATE COMPANY, OF PORTSMOUTH, NEXV HAMPSHlRE.

LACTATE BAKING-POWDER.

fiPECIPICAIEIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,364, dated October 13, 1885.

Application filed April 27, 1885. Serial No. 163.641.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAROLD G. UNDER-' WOOD, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of 'Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Baking-Powders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. Myinvention relates to the raising of bread to by the reaction of the acid lactates (especially the acid lactate of calcium) on the carbonates or bicarbonates of the alkaline earths, particularly of lime and magnesia.

In carrying out my invention the acid lactat-e and the described carbonates or bicarbonates may be previously mixed together and added in suitable quantity to the flour; or they may be separately mixedwith the flour, when required.

1f the mixture of acid lactate and the earbonates or idcarbonalcs of the alkaline earths is to be kept for any length of time before using, aproperdividing agentsuch as starch, dry and powdered, or rice-i'louris prefer 2 5 ably mixed with il',to prevent change and loss of strength. The changemay also be retarded it the acid lactate is itself dehydrated and deprived of the water of crystallization. The mixture may be effected by sitting, trituration, or any other well-known means for mixing powders.

in using the acid lactate of calcium for raising bread it is not absolutely necessary that it should be entirely free from neutral lactate of calcium or free lactic acid, and it will serve the purpose even it some impurities-such as small quantities of butyric acid or butyrates are allowed to remain; but, when readily obtainable, I use the acid lactate in a practically 1,0 pure condition.

Although I do not confine myself to the following proportions, I regard the following as a satislactory formula in ordinary cases in making bread: Take-about six thousand parts, 4.5 by weight, of flour and add thereto one hundred parts, by weight, of the dry pulverized lactate and about forty parts, by weight, of the carbonate of lime or magnesia. If the bicarbonate instead of the carbonate of magnesia is used, I modify the proportions of the ingrcdients-say, using about one hundred parts of the lactate to about eightyfour parts (No specimens.)

of the bicarbonate of magnesia, for instanc The mixture of flour, acid lactate, and the ca bonates or bicarbonates described is then sal ed, if desired, (adding, say, five to fitter parts of salt to each one thousand parts of ti mixture,) and five hundred parts (more less) of water (all proportions being by weigh mixed therewith, and the mass well kneade molded, and baked. The carbonic-acid g necessary to raise the bread is evolved at tl right time, and the reaction is so comple that the alkali is neutralized and not left fr to injure the bread.

In putting up the baking-powder for futu use 1 would ordinarily employ to each hu dred parts of the dry pulverized lactate abo forty parts of the carbonate of lime (more 1 less) or magnesia and about ten to fitter parts of dry and powdered starch, rice=flou or other suitable firrinaceous or other dividii agent; or if the bicarbonate of magnesia used, a chemically-equivalent proportion m: be used, as hereinbel'ore'indicated, and sore what less of the dividing agent than before.

The foregoing proportions may be vari within reasonable limits without departil from the spirit of my invention, and I do n confine myself strictly thereto. In place the acid lactate of calcium othersuitable ac lactates may be taken; but I prefer the ca cium lactate, as it maybe readily and cheap made by the well-known Avery processes.

Having thus described myinvention, whal claim as new, and desire to secure by Lette Patent, is

1. The improved baking-powder or crezu' of-tartar substitute herein described, consis ing of an acid lactate combined with the ca bonates or bicarbonates of the alkaline earth as set forth.

2. A baking-powder consisting of the ac lactate of calcium, the carbonates of lime l magnesia, and asuitable dividing agent, as s forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing have hereunto set my hand, at \Vashington, the District of Columbia, in the presence two witnesses.

HAROLD G. UNDERWOOD.

YVitnesses:

AROIH'BALD Yonm, (3. M. WERLE. 

